Improvement in grain-separators



J. L. BOOTH.

Grain Separator.

Patented Nov. 4, 18 62.

N. PETERS PhmwLilhop-mpbcr. Washington, DC.

UNITED STATES l PATENT Orrrcn.

JONATHAN L. BOOTH, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

lMPROV EMENT IN GRAlN-SEPARATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No- 36,S30, dated November4, 1862.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JONATHAN L. BOOTH, of Rochester, in the county ofMonroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Grain -Separators; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure l is a perspective view' of my improved grain-separator; Fig. 2,a vertical section of the same; Fig. 8, a fragment in section,representing more particularly the manner of fastening the strips orslats that look the screens in place.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention is intended more particularly for separating the differentkinds of mixed grain after the mass is winnowed- -such, for instance, aswheat and oats-to accomplish which, as there is no chaff or foreignmatter to remove, a fan is unnecessary.

A frame, A, supported by legs B B, is provided, made square orrectangular in outline, and composed of four sides, g h z k, asrepresented clearly in Fig. 1. The opposite side pieces, 9 h, at theends of the hopper, and the back piece, 70, under the hopper, arerespectively provided with a set of inclined grooves, a a a,corresponding in position in each part of suitable number, and situatedat suitable distances apart, in which grooves slide and rest,respectively, the edges of perforated metallic screens 0 C, (such as arefrequently used l their proper place, while those in the back piece, is,allow the rear edges to rest therein, thus supporting the screens atthat part where the greatest strain comes from the weight of the seedfrom the hopper. This is necessary to prevent sagging or depression ofthe screens at the rear, in which case the grain will not spread evenlyover the surface of the screens,

as is necessary for it to do in order to secure the proper effect,butwill be directed down in a mass in the center. By the use of thisarrangement the screens are easily inserted or re moved, while they donot have to be tacked, nailed, or fastened rigidly to the sides of theframe, as is ordinarily done. The device is also exceedingly cheap, thesquare skeleton frame alone being employed. I

In the shoes of fanning-mills ledges are generally used for supportingthe screens and sieves; or, if grooves are employed, they are used onlyin the two opposite sides,and not in the rear, and they are generallymade in separate pieces, secured to the sides of the shoe, whichmaterially increases the cost and own plication. To lock the screensstill more securely and rigidly in place, and at the same time to firmlybrace them against any strain, and to prevent any springing motion, Iemploy,at suitable positions between the sides of the frame, one or moresets of wooden strips or slats, D D, placed one above another be-- tweenthe screens in a vertical plane, extending from front to rear,and theirends resting, respectively, in grooves or channels b b of the front andrear pieces, Figs. 2 and 3, of j ust sufficient length and width toreceive them. Thus arranged, when the whole are in place, I insertawedge, c, in a corresponding hole in the discharge end of the frame,over the extremity of the upper slat, which wedge pressing thereonforces it down, so as to lock the screens firmly in place, and thus keepthem in position at all times during the violent motion of the frame,whose action will presently be described. This is essential to keep thescreens in place under the hopper, and to insure the proper effect,- andalso to prevent any springing motion or irregularity of the same; andnot only this, but the arrangement serves to support them against anystrain, keeps them always in a horizontal plane,so that the grainextends equally over the surface, and gives a rigidity and firmness tothe whole that is necessary to the proper working of the device. By withdrawing the wedge and removing the end board any or all of the screensmay be easily removed for repairing or otherwise.

In order to hold the upper and lower sur' face screens in place, theyare respectively tacked to the upper and lower strips.

Over the raised or elevated end of the screens is'situated arecep tacleor hopper, E,sub stantially as represented, having at the properposition therein ahinged adj ustable diaphragm or lid, G, covering thewhole length of the inside of the hopper or receptacle, but leaving aspace transversely in the rear for the escape of the grain downward ontothe screens. To

the diaphragms is fastened the end of a cord or chain, d, extendingupward over the edge of the hopper, and secured at the opposite end to ashaft or knob, f, on which it winds, thus adjusting the diaphragm so asto allow a greater or less flow from the hopper. Under the elevated endsof the screens is situated an inclined board, II, extending inward andupward sufficiently far in 'relation to the screens to collect anddischarge all of the perfectlycleaned grain that passes through the sameunmixed,(which distance varies with the number of screens used, beingrepresented in the drawings as about two-thirds the extent of saidscreens.) Below this board, discharging about midway of the frame, andextending forward to the discharge ends of the screens, is situated asimilar inclined board, K, whose office is to collect and discharge theimperfectly-cleaned grain that passes through all of the screens in amixed state. The inclination of both these boards is reversely that ofthe screens, as represented in Fig. 2.

The legs B B, on which the frameis mounted, are preferably situated twoon one side and one on the other of the frame; but a larger number maybeemployed, if necessary. These legs are made as thin and light as isconsistent with the requisite strength, in order to give them thegreatest degree of spring or elasticity. To the bottom of each issecured a metallicfootfl, the lower end of which is made in a point, Z,as represented, and the upper end bent into a right-angled tread-pieceor flange, as represented at 7'. These metallic feet are for the purposeof fastening into the floor of the barn or other place where theapparatus is to be used.

The advantages of the arrangement above described are obvious. Theseparator is perfectly portable, and is ready for use at any time and inany place. To arrange it for working, all that is necessary to do is forthe operator to apply his weight to the metallic feet I by pressing hisfoot'on the tread-pieces jj, thus inserting the points into the floor atany place. The side of the frame is then grasped by the hands andvibrated forth and back, the elasticity of the legs allowing sufficientmotion to accomplish the purpose designed, and the action being easy,regular, and effective, and accomplished by easy labor. The arrangementis very simple and cheap. In addition to the frame itself receiving themotion necessary to screen and separate the grain, the receptacle orhopper, being applied directly thereto, receives the same motion, andthe grain therein is stirred and fed regularly to the screens in thesimplest and cheapest manner, and without any extra appliances for thepurpose, as in ordinary arrangements. By the use of the hingeddiaphragm'G the discharge can be adjusted exactly to the intensity ofthe vibrations, and thus regulated to any kind or condition of thegrain. The finer grain, as it is received on the screens from thehopper, passes through gradually till it reaches the reversely-inclinedboard H, where it is discharged perfectly separated. At the same timethat which passes entirely through not separated (and which does notescape till beyond the projection of board H) is received on the lowerinclined board, K, and discharged in the center under the frame, whilethe coarser refuse grain that-is perfectly separated (such as oats) isthrown forward over the discharge ends of the screens. The grain is thusseparated into three divisionstwo at the opposite sides of the apparatusand one in the center, the latter only being imperfectly cleaned. Thisis then put in the hopper and run through again. This arrangement of thetwo reversely-inclined boards, in combination with the series ofmetallic screens, perfectly accomplishes the separation at'the leastexpense of labor and time, the grain passing through the screens in sucha manner that the proper deposits are received by each of the boards anddischarged so that the different collections shall be separate.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The above-described apparatus, composed of the frame A, provided withhopper E, screens 0, the standards B B B, and spurs Z Z Z, so arrangedthat it may be secured to the floor at any place, in the manner shown,and operating by vibrations,substantially as herein set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

J L. BOOTH.

